Are We There Yet? vol. 258
I attended a conference about a month ago, and in a discussion about having trust in the workplace, the presenter noted that he implicitly trusts his employees and then added that “to quote Ronald Reagan, trust but verify.” My first reaction was to chuckle as Reagan made that quote when talking about dealing with the Russians, our adversary, as opposed to one’s employees. It also reminded me of advice that one of my colleagues received from his wife. In a discussion, sometimes the most important information relates to the words spoken after someone says “but.”
At the conference, everything that the speaker said about trusting his employees appeared tainted by what he said after the word “but.” My sense was that he wanted to give the impression that he trusted his employees, but my impression was that his actual trust was not as deep as he was trying to convey.
We all know that active listening is important to building better communication because it improves our understanding of the situation, helps build trust, and likely reduces the chances of conflict. Making sure that we carefully listen to what is said after the “but” is very important to fully understanding the perspective of the person who is speaking.
Take care and stay safe.
BOOK:
Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown
From cameraman to chef, musician to food scientist, Alton Brown has had a diverse and remarkable career. His work on the Food Network, including creating Good Eats and hosting Iron Chef America and Cutthroat Kitchen, has resonated with countless viewers and home cooks. Now, he shares exactly what’s on his mind, mixing compelling anecdotes from his personal and professional life with in-depth observations on the culinary world, film, personal style, defining meals of his lifetime, and much more.
With his whip-smart and engaging voice, Brown explores everything from wrestling a dumpster full of dough to culinary cultural appropriation to his ultimate quest for the perfect roast chicken. Deliciously candid and full of behind-the-scenes stories fans will love, Food for Thought is the ultimate reading experience for anyone who appreciates food and the people that prepare it.
Learn more about Bob Len here.
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